Jan India Update

Great news! The Kadamtola Project Rhino Learning Center is in full swing. Right now we are creating our own lesson plans, so please pray that the curriculum will be purchased as soon as possible. Friday I had my first chance to go out to the village and help teach English to the children. We had such an awesome time! I taught them some new, silly, educational songs and the school rules that I adopted from Life School.

For all of my Life School friends out there, I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing my phonetic spelling of how to say the rules in Bengali.

1. Instant obedience - Kotha sono

2. Respect for others - Sobar sommon koro

3. Respect for property - Somaner jutno koro

4. Diligence to duty - Aro bholo kore koro

5. Listening learning position - Bhalo kore bosho

It really made me think the only difference from me and these children is that I was born in America. It could have been me sitting in that classroom. The payoff for doing what I'm doing is far greater than I could ever give, but I want to give my very best to these kids.

Back to India

What a wonderful, refreshing time I've had these last two months being home for the holidays. It's bitter sweet going back to Calcutta, India. I'm so excited to get back to start the school I prepared for last fall, but I'm sad to leave behind all my wonderful friends and family. Please pray that I have a safe flight back. My travels start the morning of January 18th and end the morning of January 20th. I wish I could give everyone a big hug before I leave, but since that isn't possible, how about I just give you this silly story to brighten your day.

I haven't had any encounters with burning bushes yet, but when I was in India I did have an encounter with the chicken man. Who's the chicken man you might ask? Well, let me tell you about him. Every morning the chicken man gathers about 50 unsuspecting chickens and straps them onto his bike to deliver fresh to the local markets. The first time I saw this peculiar sight, I gawked at his bundle of feathers in disbelief. I was even more shocked with I realized that the chickens were blinking back at me and content to be hanged upside down. It's truly a sight to behold. On my last day in India, I was quick on the draw and actually captured a picture of him after many failed attempts. I think it was God's little going away present for me.

December India Update

Great news! God answered our prayers! The Kadamtola Learning Center will be ready to start when I get back. Since the curriculum I was planning on using is still not available, I will need to use a different curriculum in the mean time which is totally fine with me. We are also planning a winter camp for the kids called Winter Safari. I think it will help build momentum and give us a chance to get to know the kids before the school starts.

About two months ago I went out to Kadamtola to assist with the feeding line where CMM faithfully feeds the families rice six days a week. We arrived early, so I took advantage of this opportunity to teach the children a few songs. When I started singing “If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands” a huge crowd of around 100 women and children gathered around me. I tried to get them to participate, but they just smiled and stared. I thought maybe the “Hokey Pokey” would bring them out of their shells. I have to teach the kids what it’s all about right? They did get a kick out of it, but were too shy to participate. To my surprise the next time I jotted out to Kadamtola around 50 kids came running up to the van. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I gladly sang some songs with motions for them. This time some of the children were even comfortable enough to participate. I think I gave them quite a shock when I sang a kids song in their local language of Bengali. I’ll never forget them, and I’m so excited that this is just the beginning.

My friend Melanie wrote this incredible blog about Kadamtola on Nov 18th, so I thought I’d share it with you. She highlighted me on the 17th too : ) Feel free to view her other blogs about Calcutta Mercy Ministries as well. Here’s the link.

http://melaniebeagley.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

November India Update

Thank you so much for your prayers and notes of encouragement. I’ve been keeping myself busy by preparing for the first learning center to start by the end of October, but unfortunately things haven’t gone as planned. Due to complications beyond my control, I haven’t been able access to the curriculum, and it would not be wise to start the school without it. Since I will only be here for 15 more days, it doesn’t look like the school will start before I go home for the holidays. I’m disappointed, but I have peace that God to sort it all out in His timing.

On the bright side last week I had the exciting opportunity to go scope out the next site for a future learning center. I’m honored to have input on where the next Project Rhino Learning Center will be located. I keep thinking to myself who am I to have this sort of influence? I feel God’s responds back to me is you’re willing.

I’m also looking forward to this weekend when another volunteer and I will be going on an eleven hour train ride to explore a bit more of India. Benaras is a city with a rich history which I’m anxious to unravel throughout my sightseeing endeavors. This will also be my first time to travel by train for any extended period of time, so I feel like a little kid ready climb aboard in awe and wonder.

I feel really torn at the moment because I desperately miss everyone back home, but I feel so needed here to get the school of to a smooth start. I know it will be a refreshing time for me to be surrounded by my friends and family, but I will be anxious to get back to India at the end of January.

Prayer Needs:
1. Please pray that I can have access to the curriculum, so that I can finish the preparation to start the school.
2. Please pray that my team has wisdom on when to start the school.
3. Please pray that I have a safe train ride this weekend and flight home November 16th-17th.

October India Update

About every other week or so, I get a chance to go to the Kadamtola feeding station to meet with some of the children that will be attending the school that I am helping develop. The first time I went there, I assisted by feeding the children their morning meal. On the other occasions I either profiled children for Project Rhino or took photographs for the Project Rhino blog or newsletter. I’ve been thrilled to have other opportunities to do some photojournalism with two other volunteers for the School of Nursing and Mercy Hospital.

The people that I volunteer with at Calcutta Mercy Ministries are so personable. I feel like I've learned so much about India, just by listing to their stories and explanations of the Indian way of life. They've been so hospitable and shown me some major sights of Calcutta including the Victoria Memorial, Mother House. The Cultural Center, and a tour of Mercy Hospital and of the city. Later, I enjoyed having the opportunity to serve the children with disabilities at Missionaries of Charity. I’ve also been able to visit two rural Mercy Clinics in Bagnan and Serampore. While in Serampore, I was given a tour of CMM’s Montessori school. It was so incredible to see all of these amazing outreaches first hand!

I will continue to profile new students, but I’m also focusing on writing up the policies and procedures for Project Rhino, so that there is continuity amongst the numerous learning centers that will spring up over the next several months. I truly thank God for this opportunity to serve!

September India Update

I am so blessed to have all of you in my life, and the fact that you are praying for me means so much. In my last update I mentioned that I was super busy registering children for Project Rhino. Well I proud to say that as of yesterday I have helped successfully register 150 children for the first two learning centers. Now I’m moving onto phase two which is writing up the policies and procedures for Project Rhino, so that there is continuity amongst the numerous learning centers that will spring up over the next several years. I’m so thankful that I was able to be a part of Life School and watch it grow as a young district. I didn’t realize at the time how God was strategically molding me for the role I’m playing now in starting a brand new school from the ground up. I have a renewed deepened appreciation for the administration at Life School as I am swimming through the new unfamiliar waters of the administration world.

Recently I was asked to write a bio on myself for the Calcutta Mercy Ministries website, www.childrenneedlove.org. Writing doesn’t always come easy to me. I really wasn’t sure what to say at first, so I simply prayed that God would give me the words to say. I feel like He truly came through for me, so that I was able to express my heart for India.

“I fell in love with the colorful, delightful culture and people of India years ago, while volunteering at a university filled with international students. My heart for internationals and impoverished children only grew during the seven years I taught kindergarten, English as a Second Language, and Special Education to children living in the inner city of Dallas, Texas. Now when I look into the eyes of the disadvantaged children of India, I see their untapped potential. I know they truly are kids with destiny, a hope, and a future. I’m thrilled to be a part of the big picture by heading up the Project Rhino education initiatives in Calcutta.”

http://buntain.org/volunteers

Prayer Needs:
1. Please pray that I continue to make some more local friends here, so I won’t be lonely when the other volunteers leave.
2. Please pray that I have wisdom as I continue to write up policies and procedures for Project Rhino.
4. Please pray that God will give me creativity as I update the ESL curriculum.
3. I also need Gods wisdom as I seek him on where he’s leading me next school year.

Thank you again for your prayers.

Love from India,

Kari Didi Moni (Didi Moni is an affectionate Bengali term students call their female teachers which literally means dear older sister)

Mid August India Update

I'm doing OK, but I was feeling pretty homesick today. I felt much better after going to church and making some new friends.
When my current roommate flew back to Canada, I was left all alone. However, I've been able to establish friendships with some friends I met at church from England, Finland, and Sweden. I also met some Koreans, volunteering at Mother Teresa's Mission. You know me. I'm always excited to have such an international group of friends. Tonight I made friends with two ladies that are living in Calcutta long term which is such an answer to prayer. Now when the other volunteers come and go, I'll have some quality friends to keep me company. Thank you again for your prayers. They are working!

The people that I volunteer with at Calcutta Mercy Ministries are so personable. I feel like I've learned so much about India already, just by listing to their stories and explanations of the Indian way of life. They've been so hospitable and shown me all the major sights of Calcutta.

My volunteering is coming right along. So far I've helped profile/register over 100 children for Project Rhino. Profiling a kid involves driving out to a village or their inner city neighborhood. Then one of the local families helps round up around 20 plus children, so we can interview them one at a time. Since most the families only speak Bengali or Hindi, we use a translator to jot down their basic information such as name, parent's name, parent's income, whether or not the child is currently in school, etc. The majority of the kiddos aren't able to afford schooling, so they are entirely illiterate. Also I had the privilege of taking all the profile pictures of these precious children. Later, I type up all the info, reformat the pictures, and then match the pictures with the correct child's info. It can be quite a tedious process, but it's so worth it as I look into the eyes of each child as I type away. Also this Saturday Project Rhino will be hosting a training session, where I will learn the inner workings of the online education program. However, this is just the beginning. The entire semester will be devoted to refining the curriculum and working out all the kinks. Our game plan is to have the program up and running so that we can start our first Project Rhino learning center at the beginning of January. I'll keep you posted as the program progresses.

The first picture I posted is of me with two other Calcutta Mercy Ministries Volunteers (Aparna & Jeff) and the winsome children at the feeding station where my Project Rhino learning center will be located. The following picture is of me standing in the doorway of my one room school house which pertains of a 6ft x 13ft classroom. We have room to expand, but we are so thankful for the community building us this classroom as an open invitation for us to come teach their children.

First India Update (August)

Life in India is so different, but I’m really enjoying the newness of it all. I arrived safely in Calcutta, India late Wednesday evening on August 4th. On the drive home from the airport, I was astounded at the vast poverty that would encompass me for the next several months. Sure there's flourishing wealth here too, but it coexist right alongside the oppressed. I guess that's why they say that India is a land of extremes and contrasts. I’m not sure if I will ever get used to seeing people begging or sleeping on the streets. Yet I’m so blessed to be a part of a ministry that not only sees the needs, but is being proactive to meet those needs.

After attending a service at the hospital chapel today, I went for a stroll at a beautiful park with flowering trees. However, I didn’t stay long because of the extreme humidity and intense heat. A statue of Mother Teresa resides just beyond the park gates as a focal point of honor and admiration. Speaking of Mother Teresa, I’m so excited that I get a chance to serve at her mission, Missionaries of Charity, this week. Also I will get to meet some of the kids at the feeding station that will be attending the learning center that I am helping develop for Project Rhino.

The picture I posted is of me on top our Mercy Hospital overlooking this concrete jungle known as Calcutta. If you want to see more pictures and you have a facebook account, please feel free to look me up.

Please pray that God will give me wisdom and creativity as I forge on with Project Rhino. Thank you again for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated : )